Los Gallos triumph in Switzerland and advance to the SailGP final

Los Gallos secured their place in the final with a victory and a third-place finish in Sunday’s decisive races on September 20th.

Some finals are won by sailing well. Others, like this one, are won by daring to do what nobody else is willing to attempt. Spain had Australia ahead of them, the race was slipping away, and there was only one opening to make a move: the approach to Gate 3. That was where Diego Botín’s F50 attacked without hesitation. He slipped between the wind and his rival, came out ahead and never looked back. With a manoeuvre that will live long in the memory of the season, Spain claimed the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.

Tom Slingsby’s Bonds Flying Roos were not about to give anything away. They sailed alongside Spain almost from the start, took the lead on the way to the first mark and, for much of the final, appeared to have the race under control. Everything pointed to Australia taking charge once again. But this competition does not forgive even a second of hesitation. Spain reached Gate 3 with greater speed, read the approach better and executed the overtake that changed everything. From there, they did the hardest thing of all: they did not give up a single metre. They kept flying, protected their position and crossed the finish line in first place. Rockwool Racing finished third, while Explora Journeys Switzerland, cheered on by the home crowd, came fourth.

Sunday’s glory did not come out of nowhere: it was earned throughout the entire day. Spain opened the day in commanding fashion, winning the first race after coming from the second row of the starting grid thanks to a brilliant reading of the racecourse. Then came the first warning sign: sixth in the fourth race, following an unsuccessful attempt to overtake Artemis on the final leg, leaving their place in the final hanging by a thread. Everything came down to the fifth and final fleet race. And there, with the wind finally picking up, the Spanish team responded with composure: a measured third-place finish that secured their ticket to the final.

With this victory, the Spain SailGP Team remains in second place in the overall Rolex SailGP Championship standings with 68 points, 17 behind the Bonds Flying Roos, who continue to lead with 85. The United States are third with 56 points, while Artemis are fourth with 55.

The next stop on the championship calendar will be the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, which will take place on November 21st and 22nd.